Phrasal verb
happen to sb/sth
Definition
phrasal verb. Describes an event that affects a person or thing, often without them planning it.
phrasal verb. An intransitive verb followed by the preposition 'to', indicating the recipient or affected entity of an event or action.
Examples
“What happened to my keys?”
“She looked worried, so I asked her what had happened to her.”
“The most profound changes often happen to us when we are least prepared, forcing a re-evaluation of our most cherished beliefs.”
Examples
simple
“What happened to my keys?”
contextual
“She looked worried, so I asked her what had happened to her.”
complex
“The most profound changes often happen to us when we are least prepared, forcing a re-evaluation of our most cherished beliefs.”
Usage
Often used to ask about someone's well-being or the location of a missing object.
Teaching tip
Contrast 'What happened?' (asking about a general event) with 'What happened to [person]?' (asking about the specific effect on that person).
Pitfall
What happened you?
What happened to you?
The preposition 'to' is required to connect the event ('happen') with the person or thing it affected.
Phrasal verb
Particles
to
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
happen + to + object